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Thursday, April 5, 2012

First Summery Dress of the Season

Okay, so it's still tights weather around here. But I love the summery sewing season! Flouncy dresses in cotton florals? I can never get enough!

This is my own pattern, and a very simple one: sleeveless, boatneck bodice with a dirndl-style skirt that's only gathered on the sides.

I wanted to showcase the fabulous cotton floral, which I got at Paron's Fabrics. Paron's had a ton of fabulous prints that were all labeled "Ascher Studios" in the selvage (including the rose fabric of this dress I made) and they were all so gorgeous; you'll definitely be seeing more of them here. I delved a bit into the history of Ascher, which is a fascinating story for another day.

I took a cue from a ready to wear dress I own and lined the skirt with poly organza. It has a lot more bounce than silk organza, so it makes the skirt incredibly fluffy.

Here I am demonstrating said fluffiness.

And here I am demonstrating my general sauciness.

The bodice is lined with a bleached cotton muslin.

The back neckline dips down a bit.

And here's my new favorite photo of myself, which I plan to supply whenever anyone asks for a picture for a bio or something.

I second the motion for a Craftsy course - or maybe developing a line of Gertie patterns? This dress is gorgeous! And I love all your adorable poses :-)

I'd be very interested in learning about Ascher fabrics. I got a lovely print last spring and made a Ginger skirt from it (http://gksagenda.blogspot.com/2011/06/weekend-roundup.html) and have been curious about the company ever since. I haven't had much luck finding anything out though.

Love the fluff, but I've trouble even with nice bamberg lining, so I never even considered this option. It looks like a great idea for summerdresses, so maybe I'll just have to try it and deal with the slither-down-you-seat-factor should it occur.

Sorry y'all are still stuck in tights weather... it was 90* here yesterday trololol. I already had to turn my a/c on (and I try to keep it off/windows open as long as possible, ugh!). Kind of terrified to see what real summer will bring lol.

it was 70+ degrees here yesterday and I woke to 3-4 inches of snow and still coming... so i will be pulling tights back out--sandals will remain at home. This dress is lovely! I just ordered some fun florals myself and some eyelet with a fun green for underneath--i think this dress would be perfect for the eyelet/green combo!!!! Thanks for all of your inspiration!!!

I checked out the post for "coming up roses" dress. Did you post the tutorial for the shirred back? I'm very interested in learning how to convert a pattern. I never know how much extra material to use.

Love the gathers on the skirt! I've been agonizing over what to do for an end-of-bolt bit of lawn fabric I bought recently. I wanted to do a dress with a circle skirt, but don't have enough fabric. I wanted it to be flouncy but am not a huge fan of full gathered skirts. This half-gathering is perfect!

this is exactly the model I have in mind for a material that I bought recently; I have a dress that I can use to make the bodice pattern, but this type of skirt is something tricky for me – is it possible that you take some more pictures and share some tips for creating the pattern, please? Your reward will be even bigger admiration from my side :-)

You definately, at some point, need a pattern line of your own and sign me up for the imaginary class too!! Oh, and a 'how to pick the proper fabric for the project' book as well! Haha! Thank you for.being so generous with all your awesome knowledge!!

I made my first skirt last night. Very simple one length cut in half and sewn down both sides so the selvedge was the bottom hem and a simple casing for some wide elastic. Only problem is I think I used too much material should have cut it down sure I look 3 sizes bigger in it than out of it!!

I'll be interested to hear the Ascher story - I bought a pixellated rose print at Mood when I was in NY last year (which you can see here http://buttontreelane.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/2011-christmas-frock.html) And noticed it was Ascher, which I'd never heard of. Tried googling about this company but didn't get very far.

I will definately be lining a dress with poly organza soon. I sew for a little girl who loves fluffy dresses so trust me when I say I have a ton of the stuff leftover in my stash from previous little girl frou frou dresses.

Suprisinly i'm working on a similar dress wand im really having a hard time with it the thing is : i attached the outter bodice and outter skirt right?i did the same with linings then i sewed thelinings on the dress then i fliped but the results were very unstasifayingthe thing is i dont know how to attach them like you did with you dress speciallysercure it in waist can you tell me how you attached them it please?

hi thereive been hesitating to get your online bombshell dress class. i love it!!! but i'm a very new sewer. i recently started following your blog. i just have to say you are the cutest thing out there! and also, i aspire to grow up to sew like you ;)